Will DSAI deliver on his promise to be PM for all?

Selamat Pagi Malaysia.

In April 2009, Najib Razak became prime minister. In July 2009, the Ministry of Finance Incorporated took over TIA and amended its name to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). A month before, in May, RM4.385 billion was received by 1MDB via a deal brokered by Jho Low. And so began the scamming of Malaysia and Malaysians by Najib Razak,

Now think back to these names....Jho Loh, Rosmah Mansor, Riza Aziz, Irwan Serigar, PetroSaudi, Apandi, Isa Samad, Azeez, Isa Samad, Sharir Samad, ...and the list goes on.....a veritable list of political elites, senior government servants, entitled Malaysians, their families and friends and a host of other Malaysians .... all with their snouts in the gravy trough of 1MDB. We were lied to, scammed, cheated, and, simply had billions of ringgits stolen in the most audacious manner. There were bankers, government servants, law authorities, politicians, ministers.....all complicit, all sharing in the illegal proceeds: RM42 billion from 1MDB, RM19 billion from missing GST funds, and RM16 billion in tax refunds - all gone.

Think about all that...and ask yourself this, can it happen again in our lifetime?

Mahiaddin is now facing corruption charges. Several members of UMNO and the Deputy Prime Minister, Zahid Hamidi, are also facing corruption allegations. Are all ex-prime ministers and politicians equally corrupt? Are charges of wrongdoings politically motivated? Is there any truth at all in these charges? And most disconcerting of all, we can see all around us today the proof that crime in Malaysia does pay!

For every politician charged with corruption, there are dozens enjoying the proceeds of their crimes. And most worrying of all, the army of government servants at all levels, that abated and were complicit in enabling corruption to thrive, are still at their jobs. They are still getting their salary increases, their festivities bonuses, and their pensions. Their job security is assured. They are well taken care of by this Madani government....as they have been well taken care of by governments before. A bunch of corruption enablers waiting for their cue to be part of the corruption chain again.....a bunch of corruption enablers wanting to be part of the corruption chain again!

The AGC has time and time again, failed to convict corrupt politicians and government servants for reasons best known to themselves. The latest episode is the acquittal of Mahiaddin on charges of abuse of power during his tenure as prime minister. What else is to come? Will the other charges against other politicians be thrown out of court too? When convicted, will the punishment fit the crime? And is it not disconcerting that there is still talk about releasing that convicted felon, Najib Razak, because, so they tell us, his charges have been politically motivated?

These are the stuff that ordinary Malaysians are talking about as they go about their difficult and dreary lives. They deal with the reality of the rising cost of living and the difficulty of juggling two or three jobs at one time just so that they could pay the rent and put food on the table for their loved ones.

How much resentment is felt by that accounting graduate who has to drive a Grab to make ends meet? How frustrating must it be for young Malaysians to be driving Grabs when their minds are filled with hopes and dreams for a decent future when none are in sight? And all around them, they see for themselves that corruption pays, that the pension of politicians are out of proportion to what they contribute to society and the country. There seems to be no end to these abuses because there are different sets of rules and justice for the rich and the poor. And the poor are always at the receiving end of injustices and abuse.

The frustrations of our people without much hope and belief that there will be any kind of future for them is a time bomb waiting to explode. The people can be pushed only too far. The people will only put up with their present situation for as long as they think that there may be a way out of their troubles - but how long will they wait?

If my three months in KL taught me anything... it is this: Malaysian know that they can change government. Malaysians know that the Green Wave, the results of the recent PRN elections, that MBs like Sanusi, and leaders like Hadi and Mahiaddin cannot happen if there is no support from Malaysians. Their worry is simply this: Them or Us?

Has the Green Wave under PN runs its course, or will it continue to grow from strength to strength? Will this Madani government under DSAI deliver on its promise to do what is best for Malaysian and Malaysia or are their promises to do so, just election rhetoric? Has corruption met its match in DSAI or not? They do not want anymore cheap shot or stunts by their PMO - such as his conversion of a Hindu Youth after Friday prayers recently. They want to know what the authorities are doing about apprehending Mahiaddin son-in-law wanted to assist MACC with their inquiries into corruption charges against his father-in-law. They do not want prosecutors who have proven their worth in corruption cases against politicians to be taken off the case. Every action by the authorities will be assessed on its merits. Every decision by the authorities needs to be right and proper. If you say no to nepotism - then act accordingly. If you say no politicians are to be appointed to GLC - make sure it is so. Take responsibility for your actions.

There are some of us who want Anwar to be more firm, to use his power to ensure that those against him are not given the opportunity to even breathe, what more be able to support and give growth to the Green Wave. Some of us want Anwar to stop giving any help to those state governments that are in the hands of the opposition. Bring back the ISA they say and jail the troublemakers. They say that Anwar is too soft on dissent and too supportive of those that seek to weaken the very fabric of our society through racial and religious extremism. They question Anwar's insistence of doing business as usual with questionable appointees made by prime ministers before him. These are all decisions made by PMX himself, and he must now lie in the bed that he has made for himself. And if he is found wanting because the people he chooses to work with or take advice from, failed him, then he, not his cabinet, will have to take responsibility.

But these are still early days for Anwar's Madani government.

He has done remarkably well considering what he has inherited from the others that have come before him. Mahathir, Ismail Sabri and Mahiaddin have done him no favors. If Anwar is to be faulted, it is in the manner that he has done government. How does Anwar top not getting a salary? Not getting a new car? Not tolerating corruption? How can he do better than to say that he will not suffer corruption by anyone - no matter what his stature in life? How does he do better than to heed the public displeasure at the appointment of Nurul Izzah as one of his senior advisers on economics and finance? How does he better his ability to secure a vote of confidence in his government from Parliament? How does he now build on the success of the recent PRN that sees his hold on the three states, held by his government, confirmed? He has already put together a Unity Government made up of political parties with diverging views and principles. he has held the coalition together and made them work. How does he now assure Malaysians that he will continue to have their support throughout his tenure as prime minister? Anyway you look at it, these are impossible asks of anybody, given that Malaysia has had a procession of prime ministers in these last few years.

I do not envy DSAI his task to govern, and to govern well, in these coming years. If anybody deserves to be prime minister, he does. He has served his political apprenticeship well with one unwavering commitment: come what may, he will face his adversary and adversities unflinching with courage and grace. He need not be tested anymore, bar one more exception. DSAI must deliver on his promise to be the prime minister for all Malaysians. No ifs, no buts. Enough said.